Howzit. Just got back from there.... "Paradise destroyed" would probably be the title of the article I would write about the trip if I were so inclined. Fantastic people, great food, excellent prices, beautiful scenery but litter everywhere, murky water (off the mainland), overcommercialised. It would seem to me that the Thai have chosen the high turnover option to making their money. A boat ride to Maya Beach (aka "The Beach") will have you shouldering your way through a couple of hundred people on a 200m stretch of paradise. It is much the same everywhere else. One could hire a longtail boat for a day but they are very noisy and slow and rather expensive (for what you get). Snorkelling was not relaxing as one could constantly hear the sound of big boat props in the water. The fish life was better than expected but of the colourful reef variety; no splashes, bird activity, jumping gamefish....just boats and people.
Sorry if I sound negative. I actually had a great time but didn't have an opportunity to use my aerocast and stella outfit in the two and a half weeks I was there.
